Nurses honoured at glittering awards ceremony
THE outstanding contribution of nurses in Wales was celebrated last week at a glittering awards ceremony.
The annual RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Awards was held at the at City Hall, Cardiff, and was hosted by TV presenters Jason Mohammad and Andrea Byrne.
Louise Walby was named Wales Nurse of the Year 2017 for her work in tackling some of the worst mortality rates from chronic lung disease in Britain.
The respiratory nurse facilitator with Cwm Taf University Health Board visits 50 general practices to deliver accredited training to improve the diagnosis of conditions like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.
She is credited with improving the whole patient experience and management of COPD, something that impacts across the whole region.
Her work has been recognised at a national level and is being used as an exemplar of best practice across Wales.
“When my name was called, I was in complete shock,” she said.
“I’d won the Primary Care Award so I was extremely grateful and humbled about that. I was in awe of all the nurses around me and all the wonderful work that was being described. I work with a wonderful team and I have the best job.
“The awards ceremony was great for nurses. It was the ultimate acknowledgement of our work.
“There are negative stories out there about healthcare but there are so many good nurses doing outstanding work. I feel really privileged and honoured and I’m looking forward to the future.”
Tina Donnelly, director of RCN Wales, said: “Dedicated nurses are making a huge difference to the lives of their patients all across Wales – every moment of the day, and Louise Walby is a shining example of that kind of commitment and care.
“The Royal College of Nursing in Wales is proud to recognise the achievements of the nursing family across Wales and Louise is an extremely worthy recipient of the highest honour we can award.
“As RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year 2017 she demonstrates the very best of what nurses can achieve.
“In common with all her colleagues she makes a positive difference and does so with competence and compassion. I would like to offer my sincere congratulations to Louise – and to all of our award winners and shortlisted nominees. You are all a credit to the nursing profession.”
Accolades were handed out in 17 categories, including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Tanya Strang, divisional nurse of primary care and networks with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board.
The event also saw the official launch of an innovative initiative, the RCN in Wales Nurse of the Year Alumni Network.
The network aims to create a highly-engaged consortium of innovative nurse leaders who will promote nursing within Wales and externally, both nationally and internationally.
Wales Nurse of the Year Award (sponsored by Velindre NHS Trust):
Louise Walby (Respiratory Nurse Facilitator, Primary Care, Cwm Taf University Health Board)
Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by Cwm Taf University Health Board:
Tanya Strange (Divisional Nurse, Primary Care and Networks, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)
Nursing Student Award, sponsored by NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership:
Tyler Payne (Student Nurse, Learning Disabilities, University of South Wales)
Health Care Support Worker Award, sponsored by The Open University Wales:
Steven Evans-Jones (Practitioner Assistant, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)
Clinical Nurse Specialist Award, sponsored by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board:
Ann Parkes (Lead Nurse Practitioner, Cardiothoracic Outpatient Department, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board)
Mental Health and Learning Disabilities Award, sponsored by Aneurin University Bevan Health Board:
Adele Watkins (Clinical Nurse Specialist for Children and Young People in Crisis, Children’s Hospital for Wales, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)
Children and Midwifery Award, sponsored by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board:
Lynfa Day (Paediatric Respiratory and Atopic CNS, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)
Chief Nursing Officer for Wales Award, sponsored by Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, Welsh Government:
Suzanne Hardacre (Head of Midwifery and Lead Directorate Nurse, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board)
Registered Nurse (Adult) Award, sponsored by Powys Teaching Health Board:
Ann Robins (Ward Manager, Hywel Dda University Health Board)
Innovation in Nursing Award, sponsored by Frontier Medical Group:
Tanya Strange (Divisional Nurse, Primary Care and Networks, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board)
Community Nursing Award, sponsored by Hywel Dda University Health Board:
Paul Crank (Senior Nurse District Nursing, Cwm Taf University Health Board)
Older People’s Commissioner for Wales Award, sponsored by the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales:
Bethan Andrews (Senior Sister, Hywel Dda University Health Board)
Nurse Education Award, sponsored by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board:
Pamela Penman (Practice Devel- opment Facilitator Wales, Marie Curie) Research in Nursing Award, sponsored by Cardiff University: Dr Nicola Evans (Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University)
Improving Individual and Population Health Award, sponsored by Public Health Wales:
Hanka Roudnicka (Ward Manager, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board) Mentorship Award, sponsored by University of South Wales and Cwm Taf University Health Board:
Pamela Warne (Staff Nurse, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board) Suzanne Goodall Paediatric Nursing, sponsored by Tŷ Hafan: Candice St John (Lead Nurse, Tŷ Hafan)